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Vipers SC: Players whose careers dipped after joining the Venoms

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Vipers Sports Club is every footballer’s dream team in the few years it has existed in the top tier league. When the Venoms come calling, it is tough for any footballer to say no – now that is the new legacy of the club.

They often make high profile signings and get it right at times, but still, for a few, things have not always come out as expected after making that final move.

Today, we bring you the players who failed to impress after joining Vipers SC through the years.

Fred Okot – Defender

Fred Okot after joining Vipers from URA FC

After being ranked as one of the best right-backs in the country 2018, Okot joined Vipers SC from URA FC as a direct replacement for the departing Nicholas Wadada, penning down a 2-year contract.

Okot showed quicker signs of being the right replacement during the CECAFA Club Championship in Tanzania, where Vipers were knocked out in quarter-finals by Gor Mahia.

However, when the time was called on Portuguese coach, Miguel Da Costa, the Okot did not make it back to Vipers’ starting lineup.

It is believed he did not fit in the newly appointed head coach Javier Martinez Espinoza’s set-up and style. The nagging injuries too played a part by keeping him out of action for several months.

In January 2019, Fred Okot was among the players that were released by the club and he has been clubless since then.

Tom Matsiko – Central midfielder

Matsiko joined the Vipers SC in 2017 but he has failed to establish himself at the club | Courtesy Photo

After a successful eight-year stint at KCCA FC, Tom Matsiko joined Vipers SC with high expectations at the Kitende based club.

But that wasn’t the case, as he failed to find enough playing time at the club due to a series of injuries that made him a fringe player at the club for 2 seasons before being sent out on loan to Wakiso giants at the start of the 2019-20 season.

Henry Katongole – Defender

Henry Katongole joined Vipers from Villa in August 2018 after being an integral member of Wasswa Bbosa’s SC Villa team, which competed for the 2017/18 league title with Vipers SC.

Katongole was on Mike Mutebi’s wanted list before joining Vipers and this can only mean, he was a hot signing.

His issues started with licensing problems at the start of the 2018/19 season. However, this was self-engineered. The former Express FC defender disappeared from Vipers camp after feeling unfairly treated by Mexican coach Javier Martinez Espinoza who had not given him much attention during the preseason of the 2018/19.

It is also believed that Katongole had been conned of all his sign-on fee by a Kenyan agent who fled the country immediately. In the due course, he failed to feature for Vipers until January 2019, thanks to Wasswa Bbosa’s intervention.

Katongole played a few games for the Venoms but it was too late to cement a starting spot ahead of Bashir Asiku, Livingstone Mulondo, and Geoffrey Wasswa.

He made a few appearances in his debut season and was subsequently loaned out to Police.

Musa Esenu – Striker

Esenu

One of the most expensive signings at Vipers SC. The pin-point forward joined Vipers SC for a reported fee of over UGX. 70m after an impressing at Soana FC (now Tooro United).

He was expected to fill the void left by Erisa Ssekisambu who had left for trials in Lebanon,after that title-winning 2014/15 season.

Despite the price tag, Esenu struggled to win sufficient playing time at the club and was loaned out to Kirinya Jinja SS (currently Busoga United) for the rest of the 2017/18 season before being spotted by KCCA FC’s Mutebi.

Even though he was impressive on loan, he was released by Vipers SC when he returned.

Brian Kakaire – Forward

Kakaire was signed from Swedish club Voxjo but his perfomances did not match his reputation

Signed in 2016 from Swedish third-tier side, Vaxjo FC, Kakaire who was blessed with fast feet and fancy dribbles failed to impress under Abdullah Mubiru and Richard Wasswa.

When Miguel Da Costa was appointed, Kakaire was sent out on loan to get more playing time and that was the end of the Vipers-Kakaire marriage.

Aggrey Madoi – left-back

Aggrey Madoi (red) courting with KCCA’s Vincent Kayizzi

Signed in 2015 to provide Dan Birikwalira with competition at left-back, Aggrey Madoi struggled to provide that competition and fit in at Vipers SC. It was upon this background that he sought a loan move to Police FC during the 2017-18 season.

Despite impressing during his stay with Abdallah Mubiru, Madoi yet again failed to command a starting slot at Vipers SC  in the 2018/19 season while competing with Yayo Lutimba and was released in  January 2019 after his contract expired.

Madoi was snapped-up by Wakiso Giants at the start of the 2019/20 season.

Abraham Ndugwa – Forward

Ndugwa has failed to live upto expectations everyone expected in him when he joined Vipers in 2018

After a successful spell at Masavu FC, the young and promising forward moved to the Venoms in 2018 after the expiration of his contract at the Entebbe based side.

He was one of the most prolific and creative players in the StarTimes UPL during his days at Masavu, helping them find the back of the net on 6 occasions and seeing his teammates through on a number of occasions.

Since joining Vipers, Ndugwa has failed to regain the form he exhibited while at Masavu for Vipers and has been reduced to a bench player.

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